How to Install Skype 2.0 in Ubuntu 64-bit or 32-bit

How to Install Skype 2.0 in Ubuntu 64-bit or 32-bit
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Setting up Ubuntu and getting ready for VOIP? Whether you’ve used Skype previously in Windows or not, setting it up in Linux versions based on Debian like Ubuntu is not difficult. In fact, most of it can be done in your package manager.

Downloading and Installing the Skype Beta in 64-bit Ubuntu

First, you’ll need to download the latest version from the Skype website. As this was written, it was beta version 2.1, and it was available for Ubuntu +8.04 (both 32 and 64-bit), Debian Lenny, Fedora 9 and 10+, and OpenSUSE 11+. The 64-bit Debian download for Ubuntu 64 was about 19.0 Mb.

Double-clicking the file opened the GDebi Package Installer. The installation required nine additional packages.

And this led to the license agreement that we’re expected to agree to. There were no surprises here, and it’s the same agreement used in Windows.

Skype EULA

The complete download and installation process only took about three minutes.

Installing Skype

Installation Complete

Setting Up the Headset

Before logging in to Skype, downloading your contacts, and making your test call, you should check to see if your headset is recognized. We had on-hand a Logitech “Clear Chat Comfort USB” headset that was recognized by Ubuntu (as a “Logitech USB Headset Sound Card”), which was a pleasant surprise.

Logitech Headset

Image: Logitech.com

To adjust sound levels for the microphone and headset speakers, select System → Preferences → Sound (or type “gnome-volume-control” into a console session).

The “Hardware” tab should show both the PC’s onboard audio and the headset. In our case, it was showing “Analog Stereo Output + Analog Mono Input,” so no changes were needed.

Gnome Preferences Hardware

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Next, click on the “Input” tab. Put on your headset, click the radio-button next to your headset in the dialog, and speak into the microphone. Observe the indicator next to “Input Volume.” Speaking in your normal voice, adjust the slider to the right until the input level deflects almost fully to the right, but not quite there. This will be a good starting point for your test call, although you might want to have this dialog open in case you need to do any fine tuning.

Then click on the “Output” tab. Click the radio-button next to your headset and then click “Close.”

And that’s it! You’ll find Skype under Applications → Internet → Skype. Sign in using your Skype user name and password, and try out your test call by clicking the Skype icon at bottom left of the main window and then selecting Options → Sound Devices → Make a test sound. You should hear it in the headset. (Adjust the headset on-board volume control if necessary.) And if that works, go for it - you’re ready to try your test call.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for visiting Bright Hub. I hope this helped you get Skype beta 2 up and running on your Ubuntu PC.

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